Slow Down for Emergencies

Filed in Recent News by Erin Dewson July 30, 2018

LOCAL ambulance said they are at risk when attending accidents on the highway and are glad a new law to slow down when emergency services are on scene will take effect on September 1, according to Mark Bell manager of Scone Ambulance.

“There is large amounts of danger when we attend accidents, especially on the highway when we are parked just off the road and traffic is flowing and on occassions we are in danger,” said Mr Bell.

“We try to position the vehicle to assist in our safety, leave our warning lights on and wear high vis, but sometimes that doesn’t appear to be enough,” he said.

“I believe the new law will help with that, but it’s like any law it’s how well it is enforced and when people start getting booked and word gets out hopefully it will mean more people will slow down,” he said.

“Most people do slow down around accidents, people are naturally inquisitive and most people think about the safety of people on scene, but the law will help with those that don’t,” Mark Bell said.

From September 1 anyone driving past stationary emergency service vehicles flashing their lights must reduce their speed to 40km/h.

Motorists who ignore this new speed limit will face a $448 fine and loss of three demerit points off their licence.

The new rule is in place for a 12 month trial aimed to protect safety of emergency workers on the roadside.

New South Wales Centre for Road Safety executive director Bernard Carlon said the trial rule aims to ensure emergency workers don’t become casualties while doing their job.

“This rule will give extra protection and confidence that at the end of a shift they can go home safely to family and friends,” Mr Carlon said.

Transport for NSW will monitor safety and traffic impacts of the rule over the 12 month trial in consultation with police, emergency services and other stakeholders.

The rule requires road users to slow down to 40km/h when passing stationary emergency vehicles displaying red or blue flashing lights and applies to vehicles traveling in both directions.